Pike Lands Cove, Lubec

This is a pleasant preserve that stretches to the shore on both sides of North Lubec Road. The left side of the preserve offers two 0.7-mile loop trails, West Loop and East Loop, with a smaller loop down to the beautiful, shingly Huckins Beach.

On the other side, on Pike Lands Cove, the scenery is more pastoral at first, beginning in an apple orchard, arboretum and field. The trail is also shorter — less than 0.5 miles one way — but you can walk along the pebbly beach for a short ways to add to the distance. The views of Cobscook Bay are lovely here, the sea blite yummy. The trail has some bog bridging to protect you from wet sections.

When I visited in 2022, the arboretum trail, with its interesting tree species identified with panels, was a bit neglected. It is interesting, however, to see the different rhododendron (we just missed the bloom, it seems!), the Kentucky coffeetree, the katsura, dawn redwood, and butternut. You can find information about the arboretum and its creator, horticulturalist Radcliffe Pike, across the street at the Downeast Coastal Conservancy trailhead kiosk.

Directions: From Route 189, turn onto North Lubec Road at McFadden’s Variety. Go about 5 miles to the parking area on your left.